A peppery, spicy smell hits your nose when you step into the recently relocated Native Seeds/SEARCH retail store.
It's the first clue that there's more than gardening going on at the shop that moved to a small center along busy North Campbell Avenue two months ago.
"It's kind of a perfect location for us," says JP Wilhite, director of distribution for the nonprofit organization that preserves and promotes the use of ancient agricultural crops and their wild relatives.
Unlike its former location on North Fourth Avenue, the store's new spot allows for serendipitous visits by people driving by and stopping to check out its offerings, says Wilhite.
More intent shoppers primarily want to try cultivating unusual or hard-to-find local plants.
"Probably the most popular thing is the seed collection," says Wilhite. "People are looking for seeds they can grow."
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Three-dollar packets contain heirloom seeds that thrive in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Among the 23 crop seeds are tobacco, cotton, garbanzo, melons, amaranth, beans, panic grass, peas, corn and sorghum.
Landscapers can find desert wildflower seed packets for $2, $10 or $12.
Other items for the gardener include books such as "Cool Plants for Hot Gardens" by Greg Starr ($25), wide-brim hats with the Native Seeds/SEARCH logo ($22) and ollas that passively irrigate plants by leaching water into the soil ($19).
Foodies, natural-care buffs, kids at heart and lovers of native art can discover products that speak to them, too.
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Store chock-full of 'Native' goodies
Lowest and highest
The wild luffa pod that helps remove dead skin cells is sold in bulk at 10 cents each. Kachinas cost $400.
Groceries
Teas, salsas, sauces, jams, flours, dip mixes and spice powders from local sources, including an in-house brand, are the source of the scents that permeate the store. They include prickly pear cactus butter ($8), chile chocolate brownie mix ($9), desert mint and white sage bagged tea ($4) and mesquite flour ($8). A section of bagged whole chiles ($2.50) includes ancho and guajillo.
Kid stuff
Picture books and toys, such as a wooden pull train of mama quail and her babies ($120) keep youngsters entertained. "Little sprout" onesies ($22) and bibs ($18) make them look cute.
Personal care
Mesquite cough syrup ($18), medicinal Hopi hohoysi tea ($4) and botanical soaps ($6.50) made of Southwestern plants are some of the products that offer a natural way to keep the body feeling and looking good.
Native crafts
Baskets, pottery and masks come from artisans in Mexican communities. A small collection of fine craft includes Tohono O'odham weavings ($30-$275) and Mayo and Yaqui dancer dolls ($98-$250).
Details
Native Seeds/SEARCH retail store
• 3061 N. Campbell Ave., 622-5561.
• Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays.
• Online orders are accepted at www.nativeseeds.org
Contact local freelance writer Elena Acoba at acoba@dakotacom.net